Birth Nerd

NEW BLOG!!!

2011-09-08T10:21:00.001-04:00

http://phillydoula.tumblr.com/

officially declared

2010-02-10T17:02:00.002-05:00

snowiest winter EVER in philly!

books by color

2010-01-12T18:10:00.003-05:00

I kind of have a thing with displaying books by color rather than by alphabet, subject and/or author. Maybe you have the same 'thing' and if not, you should still check out
Anouk Kruithof.

Baby Carrots

2010-01-11T19:00:00.003-05:00

My kid cradled a carrot in her napkin at dinner tonight. She called it her "beebee." Then she grunted and told us it came from her "gina!"

2009-12-21T21:46:00.000-05:00

best poem of the year

2009-12-21T21:38:00.002-05:00

even though it was from last december's issue of shampoo, i'm still counting it...

the bitches

Food & Drink in Labor

2009-09-03T12:10:00.006-04:00

You've got to love how backwards hospital rules are in relation to laboring women and their rights. Wake the eff up!

Issues Policy Statement About What Women in Labor Will Be "Allowed" to Eat and Drink

"WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 25, 2009) – Displaying a stunning lack of regard for patient autonomy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued a statement this week declaring that the group will "allow" laboring women to drink "modest amounts" of clear fluids during labor while continuing to prohibit access to solid food."

Seriously? You think this is an acceptable step up from ice chips?

Granted, during the "physical equivalent of a marathon" that was the birth of my daughter, I wasn't particularly interested in eating. The midwives talked me into it and believe me, those grapes and shots of sugar-spiked orange juice filled the gas tank. Had I been "allowed" to ingest only ice chips and clear liquids for 15 hours, I would've absolutely been in the hospital with a c-section.

So, what's good to eat/drink while in labor?

* at least one sip of water after EVERY contraction (dehydration is inevitable if you don’t drink, especially at home without an IV)
* other energizing liquids can include: Recharge, Airborne, sugar-spiked OJ
* honey sticks
* tea
* miso soup
* dark chocolate
* protein bars
* fruit
* bites of hearty whole grains (oatmeal, quinoa, rice, etc.)

I would recommend not eating huge meals. The other advice I’ve been given is to limit cold foods (i.e. Popsicles, ice, etc) because cold constricts. You want to be as loose as possible to birth that baby.

Listen to your body.

Hazel Basil 19mos.

2009-08-04T21:14:00.003-04:00

We're deep in the kingdom of somersaults and tantrums, nursing baby dolls and wearing high heels.

Happy World Breastfeeding Week

2009-08-04T14:42:00.003-04:00

Sweetness.

"Pit to Distress"

2009-08-04T14:19:00.002-04:00

Hello little blog.
I left you hanging for too long.

Please read theunnecesarean.com's post on the truths about Pitocin (labor induction drug). I'm a little late on this, but it's ridiculously important.

ToddlerGreenDay

2009-02-04T13:10:00.003-05:00

bye bye baby!

we went to the zoo monday and the aquarium tuesday.

hazel can't quite get the sign for fish yet, but she beats her chest like a monkey and extends her arm to represent elephant. she also now signs "drink" (thanks auntie jill) and "book".

MoreGreenDay

2009-02-04T13:01:00.002-05:00

play kitchen utensils

2009-02-04T12:57:00.000-05:00

Snow

2009-02-04T12:50:00.003-05:00

= = = = = = = =

2009-01-15T21:39:00.004-05:00

Because my books have been in storage since right before Charlie died, I think it’s time to unearth their splendor before our 30th birthdays. I don’t know why these things seem to be linked right now, though the irony of Charlie + books does make me smile. He saved all of the postcards I sent him from Ireland in 2001, including the pic above of the Trinity College Library. I wonder if those postcards are still in the light switchplates where he left them...

oh no he didn't

2009-01-14T13:52:00.003-05:00

Learning to Read

by Franz Wright

If I had to look up every fifth or sixth word,

so what. I looked them up.

I had nowhere important to be.

My father was unavailable, and my mother

looked like she was about to break,

and not into blossom, every time I spoke.

My favorite was the Iliad. True,

I had trouble pronouncing the names,

but when was I going to pronounce them, and

to whom?

My stepfather maybe?

Number one, he could barely speak English;

two, he had sufficient intent

to smirk or knock me down

without any prompting from me.

Loneliness, boredom and terror

my motivation

fiercely fuelled.

I get down on my knees and thank God for them.

Du Fu, the Psalms, Whitman, Rilke.

Life has taught me

to understand books.

taken from The New Yorker: January 19, 2008
...

This is some serious backlash from the son of the father this blog is named after. He's probably in the right though, from what I've read of their relationship. It reminds me to re-read The Delicacy and Strength of Lace.

I've been intrigued by the writer-as-parent relationship with offspring. Speaking of which we just finished watching the 1st season of Californication from Netflix. We're addicts without a 2nd season to rent. I keep having dreams that Hazel is going to look like Hank's daughter, Becca. Even though her precocious personality on the show is mostly unbelievable, I dig her.

Hazel shares a birthday with Jim Bakker…

2009-01-13T10:22:00.002-05:00

Isaac Asimov & Sally Rand

Future endeavors may include nerdy science fiction writing, televangelism and/or exotic dancing.

Hazel officially turned the big bad 1 on Jan. 2nd and, yes she is…big and bad. 23 lbs, 31.5 in.

As I write this, she is sporting a sparkly white tutu and roughing up her trusty horse, Rody. This, just after she and her father laughed wildly while throwing bowling pins at my head. They are made out of fabric, but still. Big & bad (ok, spirited).

Some days she babbles “Mum, mom, mama, mummy” over and over. Other days, she hardly says anything. She calls Beep the cat, “Bop,” “Bip” and “Bob,” beats her chest when you ask her what a monkey says and will sit and read books for hours (no shit), which is particularly nice when I don’t feel like getting out of bed in the morning. Physically, she’s a powerhouse. She started walking at 10 months, can aim and throw a ball quite competently and starts gym class this week. And the kid loves to dance (head bang, really), especially to her dad’s beat boxing.

She’ll kiss anyone. She might not let you hold her or share her toys with you, but she’ll lip-to-lip-open-mouth-smooch you every time you ask.

She uses her sign language for “more” and “milk.” And yes, she still nurses 24/7. I’m kind of like a drive thru. *Sign, pull down shirt, suck, suck, smile, and…back to running, playing, dancing, laughing*. Neither one of us plans to stop this nursing relationship anytime soon, though my cutoff is kindergarten. ;)

Hazel does many other remarkable things, but there’s just no time to list them all.

I cherish these sweet, sweet days .

Happy birthday little mama.

Ergo!

2008-12-02T21:12:00.001-05:00

Win a Free Organic Embroidered Ergo Baby Carrier Hands Free System from Along for the Ride

Hazel's Birth Story

2008-07-29T11:06:00.004-04:00

from sister and doula, Jill's perspective.
I hope to finish the birth video in the next few weeks.

Cross-nursing or Co-nursing?

2008-07-28T22:28:00.006-04:00

I'm totally down with the idea and know women who have practiced the art.

I think I prefer the term co-nursing, because it addresses the community aspect of breastfeeding others’ babies. Cross-nursing sounds more fun, though only because it sounds like cross-dressing, which probably begins as a solo thang, before it becomes a cabaret thang...but maybe it fits the definition for that reason? Idk. I could think myself into a corner on this one, as the inter-species connotation also comes to mind.

So the point is that ABC News and the likes believe that nursing your friends’ babies and them returning the favor is becoming quite TRENDY, you know, like cloth-diapering.

*Accepting applications (no tigers please)*

love.nugget.tickle.bliss

2008-07-28T22:16:00.003-04:00

O my.

Why can't all minutes of the day embody such fun?

Broccoli & Carrots

2008-07-22T22:17:00.003-04:00

Hazel's been tasting new foods, when she's not busy crawling and pulling herself up on various household objects. We're practicing baby-led weaning or some version of it. She doesn't seem ready for serious eating yet, so she really just sucks on fruits and veggies. The frozen carrot is tops!

Stashy Stash Stash

2008-07-10T21:15:00.001-04:00

Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)

The Business of Being Born

2008-05-19T18:45:00.003-04:00

Watch it HERE for free!

things we currently love

2008-05-19T13:48:00.004-04:00

Keptin Jr. Zmooz lovey doll
hand-me-down Ruskovilla wool shirt and alpaca longies
Boppy body pillow
Hazel's bottom lip-less teething smile :)

Wearing Hazel

2008-05-06T10:06:00.005-04:00

I now have 9 baby carriers, not including the dreadful bucket seat I still lug around on occasion.

2 pretty ring slings (hand-me-downs)
1 Over the Shoulder Baby Holder (hand-me-down)
1 Hotsling (hand-me-down)
1 Kangaroo Korner Fleece Pouch (gift from Mom-love it, but think it's too small?)
1 Infantino carrier (baby shower gift)
1 Baby Bjorn (hand-me-down)
1 BECO Butterfly in Ava (the one and only hard to acquire carrier I bought)
1 BabyHawk mei tai in sugar skulls (best hand-me-down and favorite carrier)

The mei tai is the favorite because it's so easy to put on (even the back carry). Hazel peeks out from the top and chews with love on the straps. The only con of the BabyHawk is that the long straps seem to always fall in puddles while not on me.

The BECO is more of a structured carrier, but still soft. Good for front and back carries, but harder to adjust when she's on the back. Still very chewable for the babe.

I think once she's sitting up on her own, we'll be able to use the slings and other carriers on the hip. The Bjorn and Infantino style packs are Julian's favorites because he enjoys the face out position for Baby H.

Carriers I want to purchase:

1 mesh pouch for swimming
1 hard structured pack for hiking-type adventures

Adventures in Babywearing

2008-04-28T11:13:00.006-04:00

Click HERE for entire slide show. Amazing!

Menomena

2008-04-25T10:59:00.004-04:00

2008-04-25T09:35:00.004-04:00

FYI

The title of my blog comes from the poem, "A Blessing," by James Wright. You can hear it read aloud by Garrison Keillor, here.

"Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom." -JW